Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Opinion / Online-views/  Receivables shock depresses PTC India
BackBack

Receivables shock depresses PTC India

Receivables shock depresses PTC India

Premium


Even in the dark world of power stocks, electricity trading and investing firm PTC India Ltd is a drag. Since the beginning of November, the stock has lost more one-third of its value. In comparison, the power index on BSE has fallen only 14.2%.

As a result, from a negative working capital position in the first half of the last fiscal year, the company’s working capital cycle has expanded to 58 days in the current year, calculates the India Infoline Group.

The problem of ballooning receivables is not going to go away soon as these are mainly delays in payments from customers. To meet the payment obligations to electricity generators, PTC India has to either draw funds from internal accruals or borrow from outside.

For now, it has a debt of 350 crore, but cash balances have fallen by half in the first half of the fiscal to 400 crore.

Also See | Grim Phase (PDF)

The firm might eventually recover its dues, but investors are not so confident because the recovery is likely to be a long process. The most troublesome customers—Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu—are nowhere close to reforming their electricity boards. They together constitute 48%, or 1,100 crore, of PTC India’s outstanding debt.

Of the dues, 16% are from the Uttar Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd. With the state heading for elections, decisions about tariff hikes and a concerted repayment plan will not materialize until a new administration takes charge, which is a good six months away.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, which owes around 700 crore, has filed for a revision in electricity tariffs. While the regulator is expected to take a call, it will be a while before it clears the dues.

The receivables headache is estimated to last for a minimum of six months. Tamil Nadu has recently paid 50 crore. But the amount is only 7% of the dues owed by the state’s board.

The burden of servicing the receivables is still on PTC India. IDBI Capital Market Services Ltd estimates this could cost the company as much as 6 crore in the current quarter. No wonder, brokerages are cutting earnings estimates for the next fiscal that starts April 2012 by as much as 30%.

Graphic by Yogesh Kumar/Mint

We welcome your comments at marktomarket@livemint.com

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 13 Dec 2011, 10:39 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App